Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. (Isaiah 43:4)
“Does God love me?” I wrestled with this question for as long as I can remember—almost as much as I struggled with the concept of love itself. For me, love meant I had to shake off who I am to earn it. This belief put me in a people-pleasing bondage for years, to the point that I’d barely do anything unless someone approved.
Does God love me?
It’s no surprise, then, that in my early years of encounter with God, I bugged Him with the same question: “Do you love me?” One day, out of nowhere, I heard a loud, powerful voice say, “I’ll never leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) I burst into tears. This was long before I knew it was a verse in the Bible. Throughout the years, He has proven—over and over again—that He genuinely loves me.
Do you, like me, often feel unloved? Do you sense a strong feeling of loneliness—one that lingers no matter what you do? Do you feel like no one will ever care enough because something is inherently wrong with you?
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)
Created with love for His purpose
Can you imagine that He created the universe with you in mind? He designed the world perfectly to sustain humans, you! He picked your parents from among the billions in the world for the perfect DNA that would bring you forth. He went on to give you the physical features and abilities that make you the best fit for His purpose. Long before you came to life, He planned your existence. And when it was time, He formed a masterpiece.
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)
And when you rejected this love through sin, He left His throne in heaven and came down for you. Suppose you were the only person on earth. He’d do it over and over again.
God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Yes! He loves you
You and I, in our sinfulness, added nothing to His kingdom. If anything, we derailed His agenda for humanity. Why didn’t He wipe us out from the surface of the earth? He wouldn’t have lost anything by letting us perish. Yet, despite His mighty power, He accepted death so that you and I can live.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
An unquenched yearning for God’s love
There’s a deep yearning in the human heart for intimacy. This desire can’t be satisfied with anything except God. Oftentimes, you try to fill it with external things—drugs, sex, music, family, career, education, assets, etc. But the more you seek fulfilment outside God, the deeper the void gets. Eventually, these things will break you.
But our Lord, knowing just how weak we are, didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. When He returned to the Father, he sent us a Helper—someone to guide us, comfort us, and remind us of His truth so that we don’t perish in our iniquities.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26)
Despite all these, you may still be uncertain about His love for you. But know this: our Lord is not dumb that He can’t speak. He has shown through action and spoken repeatedly in the holy book that He loves you to death. Still, that doesn’t stop you from asking directly. “Lord, I want to know for sure if You love me.” Pay attention because He’ll surely answer.
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. (John 15:13)
